Diamond Rings Frontman Relaunches Old Band

The D'Urbervilles become Matters. Plus: check out new Diamond Rings video

Before launching his glammed-out synthpop one-man project Diamond Rings, John O'Regan led the Toronto postpunk band the D'Urbervilles. That band has been on the back burner since O'Regan was hospitalized with Crohn's Disease a few years ago, an ordeal that led him to start making solo music as Diamond Rings. But the D'Urbervilles never broke up, now they're returning with a different name, Matters, and a different sound.

Matters will release their first single "Get In or Get Out" b/w "Wild Steps" on April 5 via O'Regan'sHype Lighter label. It's a limited-edition 7" with a digital download included. The video for the streamlined, synth-driven "Get In or Get Out" is a tense black-and-white chase story from directors Colin Medley and Jared Raab, and you can watch it below, via Rolling Stone.

Next month, Matters plan to play a few Canadian shows with fuzzed-out Ontario indie duo PS I Love You; we've got those dates below. They're also hoping to release a full-length album this fall.

Diamond Rings also have a new video, for the Special Affections track "It's Not My Party". In the ominous, meditative clip from director Jeff Scheven, O'Regan goes out in his best cross-dressing finery, pops some pills, gets punched in the face, and eats pizza. Watch it below, or at Pitchfork.tv.